Top Left: Laurie Gordon (left) and Robina Riccitiello, members of the UCLA DGC Leadership Council. Second: (From left) Shari Staglin, Dr. Nelson Freimer and Garen Staglin. Bottom: (From left): May and Richard Ziman, UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block and Mrs. Carol Block, and Gail Kamer Lieberfarb. Photos: Todd Cheney/UCLA Photography
UCLA’s Challenge to End Depression event took place on May 14, 2018, at UCLA for the UCLA Depression Grand Challenge (DGC). UCLA faculty members from the DGC Executive Committee — Dr. Nelson Freimer, Maggie G. Gilbert Professor of Psychiatry; Dr. Jonathan Flint, Wilder Chair in Psychiatry and Neuroscience; and Dr. Michelle Craske, distinguished professor of psychology — talked about their important work and how they personally came to dedicate themselves to curing depression. They discussed the research progress of the DGC since its launch in 2015, as well as treatment advances provided through the Innovative Treatment Network, a component of the DGC. They also shared how the DGC is addressing the mental health needs of UCLA students. UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block opened the event, covering the background of the UCLA Grand Challenges and how the university is uniquely positioned to address the global health issue of depression.
Laurie Gordon, a member of the DGC Leadership Council, introduced faculty speakers. Shari Staglin, a council member, and Garen Staglin, co-chair of the DGC Leadership Council, announced a $1 million mini-campaign to launch the DGC 100,000-Person Study in the UCLA Health system to identify genetic and environmental factors associated with depression. The Staglins announced their commitment of $100,000, and the evening raised $575,000, including a contribution from Laurie and Steven Gordon. Further gifts post event achieved the $1 million goal.
On April 26, 2018, Jan and Bill Mitchell hosted a similar event in Menlo Park, California, for Northern California UCLA alumni and DGC donors.
For more information, contact Dorin Esfahani at: 310-267-1838
